Tag Archives: Finance

When I began this blog in the beginning of the semester (wow, that’s weird to say), I didn’t really know what to focus on. I knew I wanted to do something with travel, but I wasn’t sure what. I mean, I didn’t have a job or any means of going places. I randomly surfed through pages and pages of blogs until I came across Nora Dunn’s The Professional Hobo. It contained everything I’ve wanted to do since I was little. I sent her an email asking a few questions about her and her travels and, much to my delight, she responded! I’d like to share her responses with all of you out there in cyber space.

Well I’d love to hear about your reasoning for picking up and deciding to travel.

ND: At the age of 30 and after sinking myself into my business and ignoring the ever-present voice in the back of my head suggesting I had an unfulfilled dream, I decided to sell everything I owned to travel full-time.

That was back in 2006, and since then my boyfriend and I have been on the road. We travel slowly everywhere we go, staying weeks to months (to years) in each location. We often work in trade for our accommodation to reduce expenses and get a more local experience, and my writing helps pay for other incidentals. As such, we travel full-time in a financially sustainable manner (read: we can do it forever if we want).

That’s fantastic. What is your favorite place to visit? Why?

ND: Right now my favourite place to visit is any place new! My reason goes hand in hand with why I travel in the first place; to discover new places and people, and to tell stories about it.

What got you into blogging?

ND: Blogging was initially a way to stay in touch with family and friends while I was on the road. Once I was traveling, I realized there is more to traveling with an internet connection than I had anticipated, and paying writing gigs started to materialize, along with the increased popularity of my own blog. Now I still use my blog to stay in touch with family and friends, but I also write for a much wider audience.

Do you have any favorite writers or publications?

ND: Rolf Potts has long been a favorite writer of mine, along with a few obscure ones that I won’t mention. I love to read travel memoirs and adventures, as well as how-to ebooks and articles about travel, finance, and business.

What was the most outrageous thing that has happened to you during your travels?

ND: I have a knack for the outrageous on the road. Here are a few tidbits of outrageousness:

In northern Thailand, my boyfriend and I stopped our itinerary in its tracks to raise money for the survivors of cyclone Nargis, who were hanging precariously on to life in the aftermath in May 2008. We raised $15,000 internationally and successfully sent aid into Burma. (LINK: http://theprofessionalhobo.com/category/burma-cyclone-relief/)

Last year Australia, we found ourselves in the midst of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires: Australia’s worst-ever natural disaster. (LINK: http://theprofessionalhobo.com/2009/02/victorian-bush-fire-diary-february-7th-day-one/) Once again we rolled up our sleeves and helped to manage a warehouse receiving and distributing donations for fire survivors coming from around the country. We ourselves were evacuated for a month during this time, and when the project ended two months after the fires began, we were given 1 year extensions on our Australian visas and were given working rights too.

You never know what’s going to happen on the road. That’s what I love!

Do you have any collections or hobbies other than writing and traveling?

ND: Sure! As a former professional actor/singer/dancer, my love of musical theatre is never far from the front of my mind. When I get a chance to perform, I do!

I also love to be outdoors (as I mentioned earlier), and I love adventurous activities like rock climbing, scrambling, mountaineering, caving, bungee jumping, skydiving, motorcycle racing….and on it goes.

What would be your idea of a perfect day?

ND: I try to balance a little bit into each day – or at least each week. I get outside and hike/walk/swim/climb/paddle as much as possible. I also harbour a slight addition to social networking and clearing out my Inbox, which fills up quickly. I write for a variety of editors on a variety of topics, mostly centered around travel and personal finance. And I spend time with my boyfriend (who travels with me), and our local friends. No matter our location, these activities tend to be themes. Although nothing is perfect, I’ve designed my life to be as close to perfect (at least my version thereof) as possible.

Do you have any travel tips for the financially challenged?

ND: Yikes – travel tips for the financially CHALLENGED could be dangerous. I like giving travel tips for the frugally minded – and I manage to travel the world full-time for approximately $14,000/year (LINK:http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/cheap-travel/) using these techniques.

But if you are financially challenged, you might not have the ability to hit the road to begin with. I’ve received lots of emails from people saying they have all sorts of debt and no savings, asking me when they can travel full-time.